Ceiling fixture adapter



April 22, 1969 i D. A. COHEN 3,440,331

CEILING FIXTURE ADAPTER Filed Feb. 14, 1967 Sheet 1 of 2 INVENTOR.

DAVID A. COHEN V MW. .LwLML ATToKN s7 April 22, 1969 I D. A. COHEN3,440,331

CEILING FIXTURE ADAPTER Filed Feb. 14, 1967 Sheet ,3 of 2 INVENTOR.

DAVID A. COHEN BY m g. LAM- ArToiznsy United States Patent 3,440,331CEILING FIXTURE ADAPTER David A. Cohen, 744 Foothill Drive, San Mateo,Calif. 94402 Filed Feb. 14, 1967, Ser. No. 616,098 Int. Cl. H02b 1/10US. Cl. 174-61 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An adapter platemember for suspending electrical boxes and fixtures from loweredceilings. The adapter plate has a plurality of connecting members whichhave a cross sectional shape corresponding to the cross sectional shapeof the ends of the beams supporting the lowered ceiling. The ends of thebeams engage these connecting members by virtue of the matching crosssectional shapes to rigidly connect the beam ends and to suspend theadapter plate from the beam ends.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention This inventionrelates in general to light fixture suspending means, and relates moreparticularly to such suspending means for use with lowered ceilings.

Description of the prior art There have been numerous devices proposedfor suspending light fixtures from lowered ceilings. As is wellknown inthe art, such lowered ceilings are usually formed by suspending aframework of beams from the main ceiling and then mounting thesubceiling, such as acoustical tile or the like, on this beam framework.The mounting of light fixtures on these lowered ceilings has posed anumber of problems which are not encountered in normal fixture mounting.For example, the subceiling material itself is generally notsufiiciently strong to support any great weight in itself, so thefixture mountings must be suspended from the beam members themselves.Often the mounting structures employed heretofore have resulted injunction boxes which extended below the ceiling line, which isundesirable from an aesthetic standpoint. Additionally, all the priorart devices have been relatively difficult and time consuming toinstall, thus rendering their use undesirable where a large number ofsuch fixture mountings are to be employed, as in showroom lighting andthe like. Further, these prior art devices have been diflicult toinstall after the subceiling itself had been formed, so that it wasexpensive and disruptive to add additional lighting fixtures at a futuretime.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with this invention, there isprovided an adapter plate member which serves both as a connector forthe ends of the frame members of the subceiling and as a supportingmounting for the light fixture and its associated junction box. Theplate member of this invention has a plurality of connecting membersspaced around its edge and each of these connecting members has a crosssectional configuration corresponding to that of the ends of theframemembers forming the subceiling framework. The ends of the beammembers are adapted to fit into these connecting members to provide arigid connection between the beams and the plate by virtue of thecorresponding cross sectional shapes. The adapter 3,440,331 PatentedApr. 22, 1969 ICC thus serves both as a connector for the junction ofthe converging ends of the beam members and as a support for a lightingfixture which may be attached thereto.

In one embodiment of the invention, the connecting members are formedintegrally with the plate member by punching out a portion of the plateto provide downwardly extending lugs. These lugs provide a supportingbase spaced from the plate member and generally parallel thereto. Aradial slot is also cut in the plate member at each connecting member sothat the end of a frame beam may be inserted therein. The frame member,which generally has an inverted T-shaped cross section, is inserted sothat the head of the T is disposed between the plate member and lugs,and the shank of the T extends through the slot. This firmly connectsthe ends of the frame members to the adapter member and provides a rigidsupport for a lighting fixture and associated junction box which may beattached to the plate member.

In another embodiment of the invention, the connecting members areseparate from the plate member but attached thereto at spaced pointsaround the plate. In this embodiment, the separate connecting membersare provided With openings therein which correspond in shape to thecross section of the frame members, so that the frame members may beinserted therein as before. This again provides a rigid support for theplate member and also serves to rigidly connect the ends of the framemembers.

In both of the embodiments, the plate member is adapted to receive ajunction box or the like to provide electrical power to the fixture. Theplate member is also provided with a central opening through whichelectrical connection can be made to the fixture supported by the plate.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improvedstructure for supporting a light fixture from a ceiling.

It is an additional object of this invention to provide a structure forsupporting a lighting fixture from the frame members of a ceiling, thestructure including a plate member for supporting the fixture, the platemember having a plurality of connecting members therein, each of theconnecting members having a cross sectional shape corresponding to thecross section of the frame members to rigidly connect together theconverging ends of the frame members and to rigidly support the platemember therefrom.

Objects and advantages other than those set forth above will be apparentfrom the following description when read in connection With theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the plate memberinvention in which the connecting members are integral with the platemember;

FIGURE 2 is a cross sectional view along line 22 of FIGURE 1 showing thesupporting and connecting action of the connecting members;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of theinvention in which the connecting mem bers are separate from the platemember; and

FIGURE 4 is a perspective View of an additional alternate embodiment ofthe invention employing a circular plate member with separate connectingmembers.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT for a light fixture from asubceiling which includes a plurality of frame members 11. As is wellknown in the art, such frame members may have the cross-sectional shapeof an inverted T as shown. These frame members are usually supportedfrom the main ceiling by means of wires or rods (not shown) which engagethe frame members at openings 11a. The head portion of the inverted T ofeach frame member provides supporting surfaces or ledges 11b forsupporting the subceiling material itself, such as panels of acousticaltile or the like.

The adapter plate member of FIGURE 1 comprises a generally circularplate member 13 having a central opening therein. The plate member isalso provided with a plurality of connecting members spaced about theperiphery thereof. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 1, it isassumed that the converging ends of four frame members 11 are to bejoined together by the plate member. Hence, four connecting members areprovided in the plate member, spaced 90 degrees apart. Each of theseconnecting members may be formed by punching or stamping out a portionof plate member 13 to form ears or lugs 13a. As best shown in FIGURE 2,these lugs 13a extend below plate member 13 and are generally parallelthereto but spaced therefrom so as to provide a space for receiving thehead 11b of the T-shaped portion of a frame member 11.

Each connecting member also includes a slot 13b which extends radiallyfrom the outer edge of plate 13, through the opening formed by punchingout lugs 13a, and slightly beyond. This slot is of a width to receivethe shank 116 of the T-shaped frame member 11.

From FIGURES 1 and 2, the connecting action of the plate member will beapparent. The end of each of frame members 11 is inserted into itsassociated connecting member, with the shank 110 of the T-shaped portionpassing through slot 13b and the head 11b of the T-shaped portionfitting between lugs 13a and the lower surface of plate member 13. Withall frame members 11 thus inserted into their associated connectingmembers, it will be seen that the ends of the frame members are firmlyconnected by plate member 13 and that this plate member is rigidlysupported by the frame members.

A junction box (not shown) may be mounted above plate 13 and securedthereto by means of screws 16 which extend through the plate member. Thefixture (not shown) which is to be supported by plate 13 may beconnected thereto by any suitable means, and for this purpose openings13c are shown in the plate member for receiving the heads of screwswhich are carried by the fixture and which can be locked in the openingsby rotation thereof in a well-known manner. In this connection, the typeof fixture mounting means described and claimed in my copendingapplications. Ser. No. 535,439, now United States Patent No. 3,302,918,and Ser No. 612,384, now US. Patent No. 3,356,840, may be employed toadvantage in mounting the fixture. In those applications, the fixturemounting structure includes a yoke member which releasably engages theadapter plate. This yoke member, when engaged with the adapter plate,supports the light fixture and also firmly positions a plug, which iselectrically connected to the fixture, in a receptacle contained withinthe outlet box above the adapter plate. By releasing the yoke memberfrom the adapter plate, the plug may be removed from the receptacle andthe entire fixture quickly removed. This is a distinct advantage,particularly where it is desirable to often change or add fixtures, asin showrooms or the like, where the present invention is especiallyadapted for use.

FIGURE 3 illustrates an alternate embodiment of the invention where theconnecting members are separate from the plate member but are connectedthereto. In FIGURE 3, frame members 21 are shown as part of asubceiling, as in the embodiment of FIGURE 1, and they have thecross-sectional shape of an inverted T. The plate member of thisembodiment includes a generally rectangular plate member 23 with acentral opening 23a and spaced connecting members 24 thereof. Centralopening 23a is surrounded by a box-like enclosure formed of walls 23bfor receiving the electrical connections. Each of connecting members 24has a generally C-shaped configuration as shown and is secured to theunderside of plate member 23 by a screw 2.4a. Each connecting member isprovided with a T-shaped slot 24b in the front thereof through which theend of an associated one of the frame members 21 is adapted to extend.

An outlet box may be inserted in opening 23a and the enclosure formed bywalls 23b and connected to plate member 23. The fixture to be mounted issecured to the plate member and outlet box by any suitable means.

Referring to FIGURE 4, there is shown an additional embodiment of theinvention utilizing separate connecting members. In this embodiment, acircular adapter plate 33 is provided with a central opening 33a havingside walls 33b. The connecting members 34 employed with plate 23 aresecured to the underside thereof by screws 34a. As shown, each member 34has a slot 34b in the center thereof for receiving the shank of anassociated T-shaped frame member 31. Each member 34 is also providedwith means for supporting the head of the T-shaped frame member. Asshown, such support may be provided by bending the ends of the sidewalls of member 34 inwardly to form opposed grooves 34c which receiveand support the head of the T-shaped frame member 31. Thus, frame member31 is supported by slots 34c and accurately positioned by slot 341) toprovide a rigid connection for the ends of members 31 and to provide arigid support for plate member 33.

In all of the illustrated embodiments, it will be seen that there isprovided a plate member which serves both to rigidly connect theconverging ends of the frame members and to provide support for a lightfixture to be mounted. The resulting installation is neat in appearance,since the outlet box is above the ceiling level and hence out of sight.Also, the plate member of this invention adapts itself well toprogressive installations where lighting fixtures are to be added over aperiod of time, since new plate members may be easily added for each newfixture to be installed.

While the above detailed description has shown, described and pointedout the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied tovarious embodiments, it will be understood that various omissions andsubstitutions and changes in the form and details of the deviceillustrated may be made by those skilled in the art, without departingfrom the spirit of the invention. It is the intention, therefore, to belimited only as indicated by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An adapter member for supporting a lighting fixture from a ceilinghaving frame members with a prede termined cross sectional shape,comprising:

a plate member having a central opening therein, said plate member alsohaving a plurality of fastening means spaced around the peripherythereof for telescopically receiving the ends of said frame members sothat said plate member may be suspended from the ends of said framemembers; and

means for attaching a lighting fixture to said plate member.

2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which said fastening meansinclude a frame member receiving aperture having a generally T-shapedcross sectional configuration.

3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said fastening meansinclude radial slots in said plate member and lugs on either side ofsaid slots extending below and generally parallel to said plate member,said slots and the spaces between said lugs and said plate memberdefining said fastening means for telescopically receiving the ends ofsaid frame members.

5 4. Apparatus in accordance with claim 3 in which said lugs are formedby stamped and deformed portions of said plate member.

5. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which said fastening meansinclude individual connecting members 5 secured to said plate member,each said connecting member comprising a generally C-shaped memberhaving an opening therein for receiving the end of one of said framemembers.

6. Apparatus in accordance with claim 5 in which said openings in saidconnecting members have a generally T-shaped cross sectionalconfiguration.

6 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,528,238 10/1950 McDaid 248343X 2,913,571 11/1959 Smith 52--484 X LEWIS H. MYERS, Primary Examiner.

D. A. TONE, Assistant Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R. 5228; 248-343

